By Victor Itodo Abuh
THE RESOURCE Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has officially launched the “Make It Count” Project, a new initiative aimed at strengthening independent media, promoting human rights reporting, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities across Nigeria.
The project was unveiled on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Catholic Secretariat in Abuja under the theme, “The Future of Independent Media and Human Rights Reporting in Nigeria.”
Speaking at the event, CHRICED Executive Director, Dr. Zikirullahi M. Ibrahim, described the initiative as a transformative movement designed to empower citizen reporters, support community storytellers and bolster media platforms committed to accountability and democratic governance.
According to Ibrahim, Nigeria is currently facing growing challenges to press freedom and civic engagement, with journalists and civil society actors increasingly subjected to intimidation and repression.
“Across Nigeria, the space for independent voices is shrinking. Journalists face intimidation, civic actors confront repression and communities—especially the most vulnerable—struggle to have their stories heard,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Ibrahim noted that advances in technology, increased civic awareness among young people, and growing demands for transparency present opportunities to strengthen democratic participation and human rights advocacy.
He explained that the Make It Count Project, implemented in partnership with WELTFILME, Germany, seeks to invest in training, technology and collaborative networks that will enable journalists and civic actors to document human rights violations, expose corruption and tell stories that promote accountability and social justice.
“This project is more than a programme; it is a movement. A movement to strengthen independent media, amplify human rights reporting and ensure that the voices of ordinary Nigerians truly count in shaping the future of our democracy,” Ibrahim stated.
The CHRICED Executive Director emphasized that the success of the initiative would depend on collaboration among media practitioners, civil society organizations, development partners and government institutions.
He urged stakeholders to contribute ideas and expertise that would help create practical and inclusive strategies for protecting journalists, defending civic spaces and promoting democratic accountability.
Ibrahim also officially unveiled the project, expressing optimism that it would contribute significantly to building a media environment where truth is protected and citizens are empowered to participate meaningfully in governance.
“As we launch this initiative today, we reaffirm our commitment to building a future where information is free, rights are protected and democracy is meaningful for every Nigerian,” he said.
The event featured a keynote engagement with veteran journalist, labour leader and human rights advocate, Owei Lakemfa, who joined stakeholders in discussing the future of independent journalism and civic freedoms in Nigeria.
Dr. Ibrahim expressed appreciation to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for funding the project through WELTFILME e.V., Germany. He also commended WELTFILME Programme Director, Fiona Klassen, WELTFILME Nigeria Project Lead, Julia Krojer and Make It Count Project Manager, Kolawole Omoniyi, for their contributions to bringing the initiative to fruition.
The Make It Count Project is expected to support efforts aimed at strengthening democratic values, advancing human rights protection and promoting citizen participation in governance across Nigeria.
